The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 177

The Divine Doctor of Demonic Arts (177)

Cho Ak-ryang smirked, a glint in his eyes. “I clearly remember your expression the day you lost to me.”

He continued, watching Gok Un-kyung visibly flinch. “You were smiling back then.”

*Like an Asura who had quenched his thirst with a sip of nectar*, you were smiling to your heart’s content. [In Hindu mythology, Asuras are powerful, sometimes malevolent, beings. The comparison highlights Gok Un-kyung’s intense relief.]

Your face looked relieved, as if you had finally let go of everything.

“…….”

Cho Ak-ryang pressed his advantage, noting the complex emotions swirling in Gok Un-kyung’s eyes. “I can guess why you went into secluded training. The joy you felt during that life-or-death duel… didn’t you want to feel it again? Because those were emotions you could never experience in a duel with anyone else.”

Gok Un-kyung paused, his expression freezing over.

He was right.

After the duel with Cho Ak-ryang, he had fought several times with others.

But his standards were now impossibly high.

None of them were satisfactory.

It was his own obsession, a feeling that defied easy explanation.

His bizarre obsession, bordering on a sickness, could only be sated when he stood on the precipice of life and death.

After that first duel, he replayed it in his mind countless times.

But since then, he had never been able to quench the thirst that tormented him.

Yet, he couldn’t simply challenge Cho Ak-ryang again.

Because he still possessed a sense of shame.

The gap in martial prowess was that significant.

That was why he decided to undertake secluded training.

And through ten years of rigorous asceticism, he had attained martial prowess that was incomparable to his past self.

So, although he couldn’t guarantee victory, he was confident that he could put up a much better fight than before.

But what was this?

When he actually faced Cho Ak-ryang again, he sensed an even more insurmountable wall than before.

But he couldn’t lower his standards now and face mediocre opponents.

In the end, he was caught between two impossible choices, and his worry had led him to this present situation.

“A guy who has nothing to fear in the world came here seeking safety? You expect me to believe that?”

The smile on Cho Ak-ryang’s face deepened, becoming almost predatory.

“Unless… you have regrets.”

Gok Un-kyung, feeling as though he’d been stabbed through the heart, met Cho Ak-ryang’s gaze with conflicted eyes.

Cho Ak-ryang unleashed his energy, letting it wash over him.

The intense aura emanating from Cho Ak-ryang’s entire being drew Gok Un-kyung in, a tempting siren song.

Cho Ak-ryang cast a questioning look at Gok Un-kyung, who remained hesitant.

“Are you going to throw away this rare opportunity like this?”

Cho Ak-ryang clicked his tongue briefly at Gok Un-kyung’s continued hesitation.

“Tsk!”

At that moment, Gok Un-kyung felt an indescribable, powerful force rushing towards him from seemingly nowhere.

Clang!

“Cough!”

A suppressed groan escaped Gok Un-kyung’s lips.

His vision blurred with the shock that made every bone in his body throb.

A firm hand, one that would have delivered a fatal wound if he hadn’t instinctively raised his arm to block it.

A chill ran down his spine.

Then Cho Ak-ryang spoke, his voice cutting through the air.

“I like the saying ‘Three Harmonies Made Clear (三合明白).'” [This is likely a martial arts principle suggesting clarity comes after three exchanges.]

It means that everything becomes clear after exchanging blows three times.

There was no better way to communicate for a martial artist.

The only means with great persuasive power that transcends all languages and cultures.

“Rust is born from iron, but in the end, the rust gradually eats away at the iron.”

It was a saying contained in the Dhammapada [a collection of sayings of the Buddha in verse form and one of the most widely read and best known Buddhist scriptures] that Cho Ak-ryang favored.

Hesitation, or doubt.

There was no more dangerous poison than this once it took root.

“And the rust can be removed by hammering it.”

With those words, Cho Ak-ryang waved his hand again.

Clang!

Gok Un-kyung, who barely managed to block the force flying towards him, was pushed back five steps.

A deep groove etched itself into the ground under his feet.

The tingling shock that traveled up along the footprints sent shivers down his spine.

“This is your last chance. If you don’t want to, I won’t force you any further.”

Cho Ak-ryang moved his hand once more.

A movement of waving his arm lightly, as if taking a leisurely stroll.

It was a light gesture of *jjikneun* [Korean: 찍는, meaning ‘to mark’ or ‘to point’] a point in the air.

But the result was by no means light.

Gok Un-kyung was suddenly overcome with an ominous premonition.

‘Formless Palm!’

Gok Un-kyung, sensing the threatening energy flying towards his chest without a trace, hurriedly leaned back and retreated.

Clang!

At the same time, Gok Un-kyung was able to witness the sight of the ground he had been standing on just a moment ago being *geudaero umppuk payeo jjitgyeojineun* [Korean: 그대로 움푹 파여 짓이겨지는, meaning ‘completely and deeply gouged and crushed’].

It was a power that far exceeded expectations.

But paradoxically, at this moment, his heart was pounding.

Moreover…….

When he finally came to his senses, he was already flying towards Cho Ak-ryang.

In an instant, he rushed in and threw a punch.

“That’s it!”

Cho Ak-ryang did not avoid or retreat.

Rather, he reached out his hand towards Gok Un-kyung.

Clang!

With an explosion, a fierce energy swept through the area.

It was then that Gok Un-kyung’s hand underwent a change.

Numerous fist shadows filled the entire front!

As if waiting for it, Cho Ak-ryang suddenly inserted his hand into the gap.

Clatter!

Even though hands collided, eerie scratching sounds erupted repeatedly.

But this did not last long.

The fierce exchange that intertwined in an instant seemed to last only for a fleeting moment.

Crack!

“Kuh!”

Gok Un-kyung, who barely swallowed the groan that burst out as he gritted his teeth, staggered back.

He sensed the crisis and tried to defend, but by then, Cho Ak-ryang’s shoulder had already rammed into his chest.

But before he could even correct his posture, he felt pressure rushing towards his face.

“Gasp!”

Gok Un-kyung’s complexion turned pale.

Cho Ak-ryang was smiling in front of him, having closed the distance at some point.

The moment he faced that smile, all the nerves in his body stood on end.

Then Cho Ak-ryang’s elbow flew in.

It was an attack that he could not counter, defend, or avoid.

Thwack!

Cho Ak-ryang’s elbow struck Gok Un-kyung’s temple squarely.

Gok Un-kyung staggered greatly and took a step back. But before he could even take two steps, he felt a shock that seemed to shatter his side.

Cho Ak-ryang, who had closed the distance again, kicked up his side with his knee.

Yet Gok Un-kyung did not fall.

“Ugh!”

Rather, he roared like a beast and charged at Cho Ak-ryang.

Cho Ak-ryang grinned at the fierce momentum.

“Now the rust is finally starting to fall off.”

Gok Un-kyung’s eyes were full of venom.

It was the same as Cho Ak-ryang remembered, the past full of fighting spirit.

But this time too, Gok Un-kyung fell helplessly.

Cho Ak-ryang, who lightly *heullin* [Korean: 흘린, meaning ‘deflected’ or ‘let flow’] the attack by simply stepping aside, used Gok Un-kyung’s momentum to throw him far away with a seizing hand.

“See and hear the other person’s movements with your fingertips, not your eyes and ears.”

Cho Ak-ryang’s voice, *heullideut* [Korean: 흘리듯, meaning ‘as if letting it flow’] delivered.

That very calm voice flew like thunder and *bakhyeotda* [Korean: 박혔다, meaning ‘pierced’ or ’embedded’] into Gok Un-kyung’s ears.

“Keuk!”

His whole body creaked as if it would break, but Gok Un-kyung threw himself at Cho Ak-ryang again.

But the result did not change.

Every time he rushed in, he was roughly *nagatteoreojyeotda* [Korean: 나가떨어졌다, meaning ‘thrown out’ or ‘sent flying’] without lasting long.

After repeating that several more times, Gok Un-kyung did not get up anymore.

No, he couldn’t get up.

“Haa……. Haa…….”

Gok Un-kyung lay sprawled on the floor, panting heavily.

In the end, it was Cho Ak-ryang’s victory again.

After quietly looking down at Gok Un-kyung, who didn’t even have the strength to get up, for a while.

Cho Ak-ryang suddenly opened his mouth.

A traveler who has been searching for a sword for thirty years (三十年來尋劍客).

How many times have the leaves fallen and sprouted (幾回落葉又抽枝).

Since blooming a single plum blossom (自從一見梅花後).

Until now, no more doubts arise (直至如今更不疑).

“……!”

Gok Un-kyung’s eyes shook violently.

A common seven-character quatrain [a verse of four lines, especially one having alternate rhymes].

But with Cho Ak-ryang’s serious eyes and stern momentum added, it was no longer an ordinary song.

This was because it was an enlightenment song (悟道頌) that recited his own enlightenment, that is, a song that *hamchukhaeo* [Korean: 함축하여, meaning ‘implied’ or ‘contained’] expressed teachings.

Above all, the content was *deureotda nohko honbaegeul* [Korean: 들었다 놓고 혼백을, a phrase implying a profound impact on the soul].

The extremely high *aogi* [Korean: 奥義, likely referring to profound mysteries or secrets] contained within became a huge shock and shook his mind.

After lying blankly for a while and repeating the words several times, Gok Un-kyung finally *himgyeopge* [Korean: 힘겹게, meaning ‘with difficulty’] raised his body.

Gok Un-kyung stared at Cho Ak-ryang with shaking eyes, then *jeongjunghi* [Korean: 정중히, meaning ‘politely’ or ‘respectfully’] clasped his hands.

“Thank you for your teachings.”

Cho Ak-ryang smiled brightly.

“It is only right for those who walk ahead to do so. I have passed it on, so it is up to you to gain something from it.”

Gok Un-kyung nodded.

Although they were not bound by a master-disciple relationship, at least at this moment, Cho Ak-ryang was a *seongakja* [Korean: 선각자, meaning ‘pioneer’ or ‘enlightened person’] and a teacher to him.

After standing blankly for a while and thinking about something, Gok Un-kyung asked Cho Ak-ryang.

“Is there anything you want from me?”

But instead of answering, Cho Ak-ryang asked a question.

“You want to run a fabric store?”

“Yes.”

Gok Un-kyung smiled bitterly, recalling the money in his possession. But he was surprised by Cho Ak-ryang’s next words.

“I’ll help you set up a fabric store.”

“What do you mean?”

“Chief Manager Sa will visit you tomorrow. It’s up to you whether you accept it or not.”

Leaving behind only incomprehensible words, Cho Ak-ryang turned around.

Gok Un-kyung, *eoltteoltteolhan* [Korean: 얼떨떨한, meaning ‘dumbfounded’ or ‘dazed’], could only stare blankly at Cho Ak-ryang, who was moving away.

The bewilderment contained not only unknown instructions.

‘He’s gotten stronger.’

Cho Ak-ryang was someone who seemed to have no one above him.

So he thought that even if he couldn’t reach him, he would have caught up a little bit more than before.

But the difference between Cho Ak-ryang and himself had widened even further.

‘How can he develop further from that level?’

It was a confusing day for Gok Un-kyung in many ways.

The next morning.

As soon as day broke, Gok Un-kyung received a visit from one person.

It was Sa Mu-shim.

After exchanging light greetings, Sa Mu-shim told him to follow him.

Gok Un-kyung also started walking silently behind Sa Mu-shim, as he had heard from Cho Ak-ryang yesterday.

How long had they walked?

“This is the place.”

Gok Un-kyung, who stopped at the place Sa Mu-shim pointed to, could not hide his embarrassment.

That’s because, no matter how much he looked around, he couldn’t see any buildings.

It was literally an empty field with nothing but a rock marking the boundary of the village.

Sa Mu-shim smiled at the flustered Gok Un-kyung and opened his mouth.

“We will build a fabric store here for you without any conditions.”

“Do you mean you’re going to build a building here?”

Gok Un-kyung had heard a lot about Sa Mu-shim’s *myeongho* [Korean: 명호, meaning ‘reputation’ or ‘name’], Water Demon, even though he had never encountered him in *gangho* [Wulin or Jianghu, the community of martial artists].

Although his martial arts might be slightly ahead of his, he was not lacking in fame.

Moreover, he could not be treated *hamburo* [Korean: 함부로, meaning ‘carelessly’ or ‘rashly’] because he had now established a firm position as the Chief Manager of the Divine Demon Valley.

Sa Mu-shim nodded at Gok Un-kyung’s question.

“That was Senior Cho’s instruction.”

Gok Un-kyung paused to *jeongnihaetda* [Korean: 정리했다, meaning ‘organize’ or ‘sort out’] his thoughts.

It was difficult to grasp what Cho Ak-ryang’s intention was.

After a while.

Gok Un-kyung, who suddenly realized something, looked around again.

Come to think of it, the topography here was a bit unique.

It was the only place where the entrance to the village, where people came and went, was clearly visible.

“Are you telling me to be a gatekeeper?”

Sa Mu-shim smiled quietly at Gok Un-kyung, who was muttering to himself.

“You can refuse if you don’t like it. There will be no disadvantages for that. But…….”

Sa Mu-shim lowered his voice and continued as if whispering.

“I think there must be a reason why he intended this.”

“What’s the reason?”

“How can I fathom his deep *simgye* [Korean: 심계, meaning ‘intentions’ or ‘schemes’]? I’m just *neomgyeojipeun* [Korean: 넘겨짚은, meaning ‘guessing’ or ‘speculating’] because he’s not the type to give *iyueomneun* [Korean: 이유 없는, meaning ‘without reason’] instructions.”

Gok Un-kyung nodded quietly.

There was a good reason why many *sapain* [members of the unorthodox or demonic sects] respected and *chuang* [Korean: 추앙, meaning ‘admired’ or ‘revered’] the Blood Demon Venerable.

He was *bujokhami eomneun* [Korean: 부족함이 없는, meaning ‘without lacking’] as a *jongsa* [Korean: 종사, meaning ‘leader’ or ‘master’] of *sapa* just by looking at the path he had taken so far.

That’s why he felt completely different from Han Seol-hwa, who didn’t care much about the affairs of *inse* [Korean: 인세, meaning ‘the mortal world’], or Beom Gye-wi, who seemed to have no thoughts at all.

And above all, he owed Cho Ak-ryang a debt.

“I accept.”

“You’ve made a good decision.”

Sa Mu-shim smiled and nodded.